Chapter Fourteen
"Career Advice"
Lizzie woke up the next morning and was momentarily convinced that what had gone on with her and Hayden had been a wonderful dream. She had dreamt that he had taken her to a romantic dinner in Hogsmeade and that he had kissed her at the end of the night. As she got dressed, she wished with ever fiber of her being that it had been real. It was such a good dream.
But as she made to open her trunk to get her robes and get dressed, she saw the dress that she had worn in the dream; knee-length, burgundy red with off-shoulders and spaghetti straps made of chiffon.
It was only then that Lizzie realized that what she had thought had just been a wonderful, wonderful dream might not have been a dream at all….
This was only confirmed when she descended the stairs to the girls dormitories and saw Hayden standing near the notice board staring at it.
He smiled when he saw her and immediately hugged and kissed her when she approached him.
Lavender and Parvati watched them from across the room with a mixture of shock and disgust.
"No…..way!" breathed Parvati. "Out of all the girls in the school, why would he want her?" asked Lavender.
Hayden kissed Lizzie again, not really caring if people had begun to stare or not. "Ohh, I was convinced that last night was just a dream!" Lizzie sighed. "Me too," said Hayden. "I'm sorry," he said. "For what?" asked Lizzie. For not asking you out sooner – I should have done it a long time ago," said Hayden. "You were worth waiting for," said Lizzie. Hayden smiled. "You look beautiful, Liz," he said. Lizzie smiled back. "I do?" she asked. "Yeah, you do, I should tell you that more often," said Hayden as he kissed her again.
Lizzie looked up at the notice board. "What were you looking at?" asked Lizzie. "Career advice for the fifth years," said Hayden, pointing at the board in front of him.
As though to underline the importance of their upcoming examinations, a batch of pamphlets, leaflets and notices concerning various Wizarding careers appeared on the tables in Gryffindor Tower along with yet another notice on the board, which read:
CAREER ADVICE
All fifth year students will be required to attend a short meeting with their Head of House during the first week of the Summer term, in which they will be given the opportunity to discuss their future careers. Times of individual appointments are listed below.
Lizzie looked down the list and found that she was expected in Professor McGonagall's office at half past two on Monday, which would mean missing most of Divination. She and the other fifth years spent time at breakfast going over all the career information.
"Well, I don't fancy Healing," said Ron, immersed in a leaflet that carried the crossed bone and wand emblem of St. Mungo's on its front. "It says here you need at least an E at N.E.W.T. level in Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. I mean…blimey…..Don't want much, do they?"
"It's a very responsible job," said Lizzie, thinking of Sapphire Cassowary, whom she had actually met when Sapphire stopped by the hospital wing to make sure she was okay.
"What about you, Hayden?" asked Lizzie. "Did you get career advice during your fifth year?"
"Oh, yeah absolutely," said Hayden. "What are you thinking of doing after graduation?" asked Lizzie. "I was thinking of becoming an Auror," said Hayden. "You'd be really good at that," said Lizzie fondly, kissing him on the cheek. Harry, Ron, and Hermione smirked. "What took you two so long?" Ron demanded.
"We were asking ourselves the same thing," said Hayden, turning back to the leaflets and pamphlets that were strewn in front of Lizzie. "What about you?" asked Hayden. "Well, at first, I wasn't even considering a magical career," said Lizzie honestly. "I wanted to go to Oxford. Their pre-veterinary program is supposed to be one of the best out there. But you have to be really good to get into their veterinary school….
"You wanted to be a veterinarian?" asked Hayden. "At first, yeah," said Lizzie. "Not anymore?" asked Hayden. "I was thinking a lot last night about the conversation we had. You know, how the Wizarding world is still very prejudiced toward people with disabilities?" Hayden nodded. "I started to wonder…Maybe I could change that…..Be an advocate for them – You know, give them a voice when the world denies them one."
She produced a pile of Ministry of Magic pamphlets about the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. "I'm going to have to work really hard to change the laws though…I dunno if they would even want someone like me doing this…"
"You could ask McGonagall what she thinks about it," said Hayden. "She's been your biggest advocate since you got here, right? I mean, wasn't she the one that insisted that Madame Pomfrey reassess you for autism when she claimed you didn't have it, and gave a list of stereotypes as proof?"
"Yeah, she did," said Lizzie. "All right! I'll ask her!"
The morning post arrived and to Lizzie's surprise, a barn owl dropped a letter onto her lap, and she immediately recognized Hayden's handwriting. Eagerly, she tore the envelope and removed a round card that Lizzie discovered was in the shape of a Pokeball. She opened the card and read the message within.
I CHOOSE YOU!
Will you be my girlfriend?
Love
Hayden
She immediately smiled at Hayden and hugged him. "Yes!" she said enthusiastically. "But – don't you think it's a bit too soon? I mean we only had our first date last night." "We've pretty much been dating for the entire year, it just wasn't official up until this point," Hayden pointed out. Lizzie laughed. He did have a point. They had spent so much time together that people made assumptions that they were a couple, and would tease them about it.
"I can't argue with that," said Lizzie shrugging. "Oh, by the way, I thought you might like this…" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Pokémon card. Lizzie's jaw dropped. It was a holographic Mewtwo card. She had been searching for one of these for ages. "Thank you!" said Lizzie. "I've been looking for one of these!" "First edition too," said Hayden. "Wow!" breathed Lizzie. Hayden smiled as he kissed her. "Well, it looks like your little outing last night went well," said a voice as they looked up to see Professor McGonagall smiling at the two of them.
"Although I don't want to catch you two doing that too often. Save it for your free time," she said, her stern demeanor suddenly returning. "Sorry, Professor," said Lizzie sheepishly as the Great Hall began to empty, and Lizzie gave Hayden a final kiss and a hug before walking out of the Hall toward their morning lessons.
Lizzie was a little less attentive than she normally was as they sat in Professor Binns' class for History of Magic, as she showed off her Pokémon card to Hermione. "That's really nice of him to give you that," said Hermione. "But listen, Lizzie, I would be really careful if I were you." Lizzie frowned. "Careful?" she asked.
"If Umbridge finds out that you and Hayden are – together – that gives her an open invitation to pass another educational decree banning romantic relationships between students…." "I can just see it now," said Lizzie sarcastically. " 'Any student involved in a romantic relationship with a fellow student will be expelled',"
"And she very well might do that!" said Hermione seriously. "So, please, please Lizzie. Just….be careful!"
"All right, all right," said Lizzie. "Are you gonna help me jot down these notes or what?"
"You do it," said Hermione. "If you want to be independent, you need to learn to do these things for yourself." Lizzie muttered something that sounded like "buzzkill," before leaning over her parchment and began scribbling.
She couldn't stop thinking about what Hermione had said, and she couldn't help but admit to herself that she could be right. Umbridge had tried everything to get Lizzie out of school, and quite possibly have tried to kill her. If she couldn't get rid of Lizzie, then it was very possible that she would fight like hell to separate her from Hayden.
She hugged Hayden tighter than she ever had when she emerged from the classroom an hour and a half later. "I missed you," said Hayden. "Me too," said Lizzie. "How was Potions?" "Couldn't concentrate," said Hayden, as they walked, his hand entwined in hers. "You?" "Boring as usual. Hermione was being mean and wouldn't let me copy her notes," Lizzie joked. Hayden laughed.
"Look at us. Why didn't we get together sooner?" asked Lizzie. "We should have gotten together after our figure skating show before Christmas," said Hayden. "Right?" asked Lizzie. "I don't know what you see in her!" said a voice as they both turned, expecting to see Pansy Parkinson, and her gang of Slytherin friends, but instead, they gazed upon Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, both scowling disdainfully at the pair of them. "Sorry, ladies, I'm taken," said Hayden, pulling Lizzie's close and kissing her on the cheek. Lavender and Parvati looked positively sickened now.
"Out of all the other girls in the school, why did you pick her?" demanded Lavender. Hayden smiled. "What other girls?" he asked. Lavender looked stunned. Lizzie grinned in a satisfied way. "You don't deserve him!" said Lavender, turning back to Hayden. "You should be with someone who's normal, and actually nice to look at!"
"You're no stunner yourself," said Lizzie coolly. Lavender seemed slightly surprised that this jab didn't cut Lizzie deep. "What's more, in order for me to be offended by what you just said, I need to have some respect for your opinion, and I don't," she said. "Oh!" Hayden laughed. Lavender looked if at all, possible, even more stunned as she turned on her heel and walked off in a huff with Parvati trailing after her
Hayden dropped Lizzie off near the dungeons for Potions and after making sure that Snape wasn't anywhere to be seen, gave her an extra long kiss before traipsing up the stairs toward Transfiguration.
Snape, for whatever reason, now seemed to have decided to act as though Lizzie was invisible. She couldn't complain. She would much rather have him ignore her than force her to make eye contact with him.
In fact, compared to what she usually had to endure from Snape, in the way of taunts and snide remarks, she found this new approach a dramatic improvement. Silence in comparison, was a welcome relief, and was pleased to find that when she was left alone, she was able to concoct an Invigoration Draught quite easily when not being scrutinized so closely.
At the end of the lesson, she scooped some of the potion into a flask, corked it, and took it up to Snape's desk for making, feeling that she may have at least scored an E.
She had just turned away when she heard a smashing noise. Malfoy gave a gleeful yell of laughter. Lizzie whirled around again. Her potion sample lay in pieces on the floor and Snape was watching her with a look of gloating pleasure.
"Whoops," he said softly. "Zero marks once again, Miss Brooks…."
"But….he…..Malfoy…" Lizzie spluttered, too incensed to make a coherent sentence. She strode back to her cauldron, intending to fill another flask and force Snape to mark it if she had to but saw to her horror that the rest of the contents had vanished.
"I'm so sorry!" said Hermione with her hands over her mouth. "I'm so, so sorry, Lizzie! I thought you had finished, so I cleared it up!"
"You should have asked me first!" said Lizzie as she felt herself become more and more overstimulated. Now all she wanted to do was just get out of this room and see Hayden.
"I know, I'm so sorry!" Hermione wailed. When the bell rang, Lizzie hurried out of the dungeons without looking back, and made sure to get a seat next to Hayden at lunch where she could talk to him in semi-privacy.
Everyone in the Great Hall was staring at them and whispering. Several times, a few of Hayden's classmates came over to clap him on the back and congratulate him on his relationship with Lizzie. Even Molly Cobb came over to hug Lizzie.
This, however, did not improved Lizzie's mood much, and by the time she and Hayden were halfway to North Tower, she had quite forgotten her career advice meeting with Professor McGonagall, remembering only when Hayden reminded her that they were going in the wrong direction. Instantly, the two of them did a U-turn back upstairs and Lizzie barely had time to kiss Hayden before she hurtled through the door, out of breath.
"I am so sorry, Professor McGonagall," Lizzie panted, her chest heaving as she closed the door. "I….forgot!"
"No matter, Miss Brooks," said Professor McGonagall briskly, but as she spoke, someone sniffed from the corner.
Lizzie looked around, and felt her blood run cold.
Professor Umbridge was sitting there, a clipboard on her knee, the braided lock of Lizzie's hair pinned to her pink cardigan as she began to stroke it, a fussy little pie-frill around her neck, and a small horribly smug smile on her face.
Lizzie wanted to know what the hell she was doing here, but she knew better than to say anything, determined not to give Umbridge any power over her. She would have her chance soon enough.
So, she proceeded with her usual tactic of giving her the silent treatment which had worked well up until now.
"Sit down, Miss Brooks," said Professor McGonagall, tersely. Her hands shook slightly as she shuffled the many pamphlets littering her desk.
Lizzie sat down with her back to Umbridge, and did her best to pretend that she could not hear the scratching of her quill on her clipboard.
"Well, Miss Brooks, this meeting is to talk over any career ideas you might have, and to help you decide which subjects you should continue into sixth and seventh years," said Professor McGonagall. "Have you had any thought about what you would like to do after you leave Hogwarts?"
"Er," said Lizzie. She was finding the scratching noise from behind her very distracting. "Yes?" Professor McGonagall prompted Lizzie.
"Well, I've thought of a couple of things," said Lizzie. "Oh, yes?" asked Professor McGonagall. "At first, I wanted to go to Oxford and study veterinary medicine," said Lizzie. "You would like to be a veterinarian?" asked McGonagall. Lizzie nodded. "I see that you have achieved high marks in Care of Magical Creatures, why not try for a veterinary position in the Wizarding world?" "Because the Wizarding world is still very prejudiced against people with my kind of challenges," said Lizzie. "I may be denied a job."
"I see," said McGonagall as she consulted one of the many leaflets on her desk. "Are you suggesting you would like a career in which you could make a difference and change all that?" "Very much so, Professor," said Lizzie, clearly and confidently.
"Changing the law is a difficult path to take," said McGonagall. "But I do see what you are saying. Our rules as well as our laws are not entirely fair when it comes to individuals with disabilities and challenges, and there is most certainly room for improvement in that regard."
At that moment, Professor Umbridge gave a very tiny cough as though she was trying to see how quietly she could do it. Professor McGonagall closed her eyes for a moment, opened them again, and continued as thought nothing had happened.
"And what differences would you like to make in the lives of individuals with disabilities like yours?" she asked. "I would like to see more people with disabilities be accepted at Hogwarts, first and foremost," said Lizzie. "I think that as long as they are displaying magical ability, whatever challenges they have – physical or otherwise – should have no bearing on whether they are accepted here. I should also like to see individual lesson plans made for these students allowing them more accommodation."
"And what sort of accommodations would these be?" asked McGonagall. "I think," said Lizzie. "If a student needs to sit in the front row of the class due to visual impairments, they should be permitted to, I also think Hogwarts should offer interpreters to students who are hard of hearing, and can't read lips, students with assistive devices such as walkers or wheelchairs should be allowed five to ten minutes of extra time, as well as be allowed to leave their lessons early to avoid the crowds of students. I also think that students in wheelchairs should be allowed to use magic in the corridors, specifically so they can get up the stairs."
Professor Umbridge gave her most pronounced cough yet.
"May I offer you a cough drop, Dolores?" Professor McGonagall asked curtly, without looking at Professor Umbridge. "Oh, no, thank you very much," said Umbridge with that simpering laugh that Lizzie loathed so much. "I just wondered whether I could make the teensiest interruption, Minerva?"
'Teensiest?' Lizzie thought scathingly. What is she, seven?
"I daresay you'll find you can," said McGonagall through tightly gritted teeth. Lizzie had to fight hard not to smile.
"I was just wondering if Miss Brooks has quite the intellectual capabilities to make such drastic changes to our government," said Professor Umbridge sweetly.
"Were you?" asked Professor McGonagall haughtily. "Well, Miss Brooks," she continued as thought there had been no interruption. "Is there anything else you wish to see changed or improved within the school or the Wizarding world is this regard?"
"Yes, Professor," said Lizzie. "I believe school staff as well as medical professionals must undergo further training and understanding when it comes to these kinds of disabilities. Stigma and stereotypes are still very much alive and well, even here, and can be very harmful because they lead to the spreading of misinformation. I think the way to remedy that is to educate both students and teachers using factual information not outdated information that has since been proven wrong. I also think the use of functioning labels when referring to neurodivergent students should be disused."
"What sort of terms would you like to be used?" asked Professor McGonagall. "'High support needs' and 'low support needs' would be more appropriate," said Lizzie. "I believe the use of functioning labels only determine an individual's worth in our society based on how much they can or cannot do. Using such terminology and other mistreatment is potentially harmful to these individuals and can make them feel invalidated, as though they don't matter and how they feel does not matter."
Lizzie saw a horrible smile cure across Professor Umbridge's mouth as she said these words, and she felt slightly sick. But she pressed on. "I think it would be of great benefit to the Wizarding world if people with disabilities were seen as human being with thoughts and feelings, and not trolls that are incapable of thinking for themselves. We can and we do. We are different, but that does not make us less."
She was looking Umbridge straight in the face as she said this.
Professor McGonagall gazed impressively at Lizzie. "Well, Miss Brooks, it is clear that you have indeed but a lot of thought into – are you quite sure you wouldn't like a cough drop, Dolores?"
"Oh, no need, thank you, Minerva," simpered Professor Umbridge, who had just coughed her loudest yet. "I was just concerned, whether you received my note on Miss Brooks' academic performance in my class as well my inspection results of her riding lessons."
What the bloody hell? thought Lizzie.
"What, this thing?" asked Professor McGonagall, in a tone of revulsion, as she pulled a sheet of horribly pink parchment from between the leaves of Lizzie's folder. She glanced down at it, her eyebrows slightly raised, then placed it back into the folder without comment.
"Yes, well, as I was saying, Miss Brooks, it is clear that you have put quite a considerable amount of thought into this, and you are clearly passionate about helping other people with similar challenges."
"I want to give others with disabilities the same wonderful opportunities and experiences at Hogwarts that I have had," said Lizzie passionately. Professor Umbridge looked stunned. "Having limitations shouldn't prohibit their attendance here….."
"Did you not understand my note, Minerva?" interjected Professor Umbridge, in honeyed tones, quite forgetting to cough this time.
"Of course I understood it," said Professor McGonagall, her teeth clenched so tightly that the words came out slightly muffled.
"Well, then, I am quite confused….I am afraid I don't quite understand what gives Miss Brooks the authority to make such decisions with her intellectual deficits."
"Intellectual deficits?" repeated Professor McGonagall. "Miss Brooks is one of the most intelligent students in this school, furthermore, she has achieved exceptionally high marks in all of her tests, including Defense Against the Dark Arts….."
"I'm terribly sorry to have to contradict you, Minerva, but as you will see from my note, Miss Brooks has achieved rather dismal results in my class…"
"I should have made my meaning plainer," said Professor McGonagall, turning at last to look Professor Umbridge directly in the eyes. "She has achieved high marks in all her Defense Against the Dark Arts test set by a competent teacher."
Quality burn! thought Lizzie, trying hard not to laugh or even smile. Professor Umbridge's smile vanished as suddenly as a lightbulb blowing, but recovered almost at once. "Yes, well, the same cannot be said for the results of the inspection of her riding lesson,"
She produced a sheaf of parchment and handed it to Professor McGonagall, who snatched it from Professor Umbridge's stubby be-ringed fingers. She glanced at the parchment, her eyes darting from side to side her eyebrows becoming so thin that they formed one tight line.
"As you can see Minerva," simpered Professor Umbridge. "Miss Brooks displayed an inability to follow my instruction or answer any of my questions accordingly." Professor McGonagall scowled. "I have observed Miss Brooks' riding lessons myself," she said coolly. "She has exhibited, excellent ability to follow directions and answer questions!" Professor Umbridge's smile widened. "That wasn't how I saw it," she said. "Then I suggest you get your eyesight examined," said Professor McGonagall. "Miss Brooks is one of the most talented riders in the entire school!"
Lizzie blushed, flattered at this unexpected praise. Professor Umbridge's smile vanished again. She sat back in her chair, turning a sheet on her clipboard and began scribbling very fast indeed, her bulging eyes rolling from side to side. Professor McGonagall turned back to Lizzie, her thin nostrils flared, her eyes burning.
"Any questions, Miss Brooks?" she asked. Professor Umbridge looked up from her clipboard as though anticipating Lizzie struggle to form a coherent sentence.
"Yes, Professor," said Lizzie clearly, trying not to look at Umbridge. "If I were to go about working to make these changes happen, where do I start?"
"Usually, you would work with members of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to get new laws drafted then they must go though the Department before getting approval by the Minister of Magic, who will enact the laws."
"And what about the school rules?" asked Lizzie. "Those changes must be approved by the current headmaster or headmistress in addition to the Minister of Magic," said Professor McGonagall.
"I think you will find that the Minister will have no intention or desire of passing such ridiculous laws allowing students of lesser intelligence to attend Hogwarts!" said Umbridge, staring right at Lizzie, her voice suddenly icy cold.
"While I do agree that more appropriate accommodations need to be made, Miss Brooks, It is a very time consuming process with no immediate resolution," said Professor McGonagall. "I understand," said Lizzie. "But if there is any chance at all that better accommodation to people with disabilities in the Wizarding world can be offered…"
"Chance?" said Umbridge. "This girl has as much chance of changing Wizarding law to accommodate her kind as Dumbledore has of ever returning to this school!" Lizzie stared at Professor Umbridge, rooted to the spot. 'Her kind'?
"A very good change, then," said Professor McGonagall.
"I think you will find," said Professor Umbridge. "That the Ministry looks into the records of those wishing to apply for jobs. Their criminal records, and unless I am mistaken, Miss Brooks has a criminal record. I see here that she had animal cruelty charges brought against her by a Mr. Lucius Malfoy – I know him well – and his son Draco, over the death of Draco's horse Raven?"
Lizzie's heart sank like a stone into her stomach. Now she felt herself becoming angry. Why were people continuing to dredge up the past? Why couldn't they just let it go like she had?
"Raven was not owned by Draco Malfoy at the time of the accident," said Professor McGonagall coldly. "Miss Brooks was Raven's owner. As far as those – absurd charges are concerned, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement conducted a thorough investigation, and found no tangible evidence to suggest that Raven's death was deliberate or premeditated."
"She has a criminal record!" said Umbridge loudly. "She has been cleared of any wrongdoing. Those charges were dropped!" said Professor McGonagall even more loudly.
Professor Umbridge stood up. She was so short that this didn't make a great deal of difference, but her fussy, simpering demeanor had given place to a hard fury that made her broad flabby face look oddly sinister.
"The Ministry will never allow her to change the law so that subhuman individuals like herself can attend Hogwarts School!"
Professor McGonagall got to her feet too, and in her case, this was a much more impressive move. She towered over Professor Umbridge. "Miss Brooks," she said in ringing tones. "I will assist you and give you all the resources you need to achieve your goal! If I have to go straight to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement myself and speak to the Head of the Department, I will do so!"
"The Minister will never allow these absurd laws into our society!" said Umbridge. "there may well be a new Ministry of Magic by the time these laws are drawn up!" shouted Professor McGonagall.
"Aha!" shrieked Professor Umbridge, pointing a stubby finger at McGonagall. "Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Of course! That's what you want, isn't it, Minerva McGonagall? You want Cornelius Fudge replaced by Albus Dumbledore! You think you'll be where I am, don't you? Senior Undersecretary to the Ministry, and headmistress to boot!"
Lizzie stared at Umbridge. She's mad, she thought. Barking!
"You're raving," said McGonagall to Umbridge, superbly disdainful.
"Miss Brooks, that concludes our career consultation."
Lizzie nodded as she swung her bag over her shoulder and hurried out of the room, not daring to look at Umbridge. She could hear her and Professor McGonagall continuing to shout at each other all the way back along the corridor.
Professor Umbridge was still breathing as though she had run a marathon when she strode into their Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson that afternoon. Every now and then, she shot glowering looks at Lizzie, who kept her head down and said nothing as she opened her book to chapter thirty-four ("Non-Retaliation and Negotiation"), her eyes scanning the pages, thinking. Umbridge's words echoing in her ears: 'I think you will find that the Minister will have no intention or desire of passing such ridiculous laws allowing students of lesser intelligence to attend Hogwarts….This girl has as much chance of changing Wizarding law to accommodate her kindas Dumbledore has of ever returning to this school…The Minister will never allow her to change the law so that subhuman individuals like herself can attend Hogwarts School…
She couldn't wait until the lesson was over so that she could tell Hayden what was going on. The things that Umbridge had said, and the way Professor McGonagall had so valiantly vouched for Lizzie as she knew she would, made her realize something: Umbridge's hatred for her stemmed far deeper than she had initially thought. No wonder she had tried so desperately to get her thrown out of school, and Hogwarts had no special education program.
"Hey," said Lizzie as she met Hayden outside the classroom and hugged him. "How was career advice?" asked Hayden. "You will not believe who was there," said Lizzie. Hayden groaned. "Oh, God! Don't tell me!" he said. Lizzie nodded. "What was she doing there?" asked Hayden. Lizzie shrugged. "I told Professor McGonagall that I wanted to make a difference for people with disabilities in the Wizarding world, and Umbridge…you're not going to believe this….."
She told him everything that Umbridge had said. "She even tried to use her inspection results of my riding lessons to prove I wasn't capable of making such decisions," said Lizzie. Hayden stared at her in stunned disbelief. He knew that Umbridge hated Lizzie, but he never imagined that she would hate her this much!
He hugged Lizzie and kissed her. "Hey, everything's gonna be okay, I promise," he said as Lizzie hugged him back and they began to walk down the corridor.
It was only the day after Lizzie's career advice meeting with McGonagall when a new notice appeared on the Gryffindor notice board:
_ BY THE ORDER OF _
The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts
Students are prohibited from engaging in romantic relationships with one another.
This is in accordance with Educational Decree number Thirty.
Signed:
Dolores Jane Umbridge
HIGH INQUISITOR
"She knows!" Lizzie gasped. "She knows about – about us!" "How?" asked Hayden, frowning at the official-looking notice. "How could she know about us?" "Maybe she was in the restaurant with us?" asked Lizzie. "Or – Or she enlisted Malfoy or someone from the Inquisitorial Squad to watch us! I always thought she was giving us funny looks when we were together…."
Hayden couldn't see how this was possible. He hadn't recognized anyone inside the restaurant, nor did anyone in the village look like they were up to no good. But then again, they had been a little less than secretive about their newfound relationship. In fact, they had been quite public about it. It became the juiciest bit of gossip amongst the students as of late. That the most good-looking boy at the Toronto Institute of Witchcraft and Wizardry was dating one of the most beloved and popular students at Hogwarts.
It made sense, yet Hayden was unable to come up with an alternative explanation as to why Umbridge would spontaneously decree that students were forbidden to date.
"We could keep it a secret," said Hayden. "Just to keep our heads down."
"But for how long?" asked Lizzie. "As long as it takes until Umbridge leaves Hogwarts," said Hayden. Lizzie bit her lip. She wasn't sure if she was prepared to wait that long. "Or we could keep things as they are," said Lizzie. "You'd get expelled," Hayden pointed out. "Umbridge will find any good reason to kick you out – She's already tried killing you!"
"I love you enough to take the risk," said Lizzie. Hayden couldn't help but smile at this. "Besides," Lizzie continued. "I have a feeling that karma is going to come back to bite her real soon."
Eventually, the two of them devised a scheme where they would act like friends when in the presence of Umbridge or any of her minions, then spend their alone time making out and holding hands in the common room.
They also continued to work on last-minute preparations for the horse show, which would be taking place the weekend after O.W.L.s. Lizzie had taken Hayden's advice and let down her stirrups by one hole and discovered that he had been right; longer stirrups did allow her to use her legs more, and thus increased her time tenfold!
Lizzie had the three days of the show marked on her calendar. The show began on Friday with the dressage – students participating were exempt from their lessons – then Saturday with the cross-country, and the final day, Sunday was the showjumping.
Hayden had asked Lizzie to pick a song for her dressage test. Lizzie had recently chosen one, but refused to perform her test to it until the first day of the show. "I want it to be a surprise," she said.
With the impending arrival of exams, and the horse show, people around the school began placing bets as to who would win the show. Virtually everyone in Gryffindor had their money on Lizzie to win. Meanwhile, all of the Canadian students were betting on Hayden.
"It almost feels like they're pitting us against each other," said Lizzie as they studied in the library together one afternoon as rain pelted the windows.
"Nah, they're just having some fun," Hayden reassured her. "Besides, I'm not worried about winning. What is it you always tell me?" " 'If you give it your all, you've already won'?" said Lizzie. "Exactly," said Hayden.
He had even given Lizzie a pair of shining silver plated spurs to wear. At first, she was a little apprehensive about trying them, but her leg position had improved so much, that Hayden assured her that she didn't have anything to worry about.
"Spurs aren't a bad thing, as long as you don't overuse them," said Hayden during their Wednesday evening lesson. "Remember, give Flicka three chances to do what you want: Ask, tell, demand, and if she ignores you those three times, then you can use your spurs, but just enough to wake her up." "Okay," said Lizzie. "All right, go ahead and pick up your trot," said Hayden. "Sitting or rising?" asked Lizzie. "Sitting," said Hayden. Lizzie nodded as she squeezed her legs against Flicka's side as she picked up her trot – although it was very lazy and not at all forward.
"Ask her to go more in front of the leg," said Hayden. Lizzie squeezed with the sides of her legs, but Flicka appeared to have suddenly fallen asleep. She tried again, and still got no response. "Okay, use your spur to wake her up. Make her listen to you," said Hayden. Lizzie nodded and gave Flicka a gentle prod with the butt of her spur as she transitioned into a canter.
The sudden forward movement surprised Lizzie as she sat deep in the saddle and tried to balance herself. "That's okay! That's good! That's what you want! Even if she canters, all that matters is that she is in front of the leg, and she's listening to you!" said Hayden as he watched Lizzie collect her canter a bit. "Good, now I want you to ride deep into the corner – inside leg to outside rein – and let's see that extended canter again."
Lizzie rode Flicka deep into the corner, applying pressure with her inside leg, opening up her inside rein, and when they rounded the corner, Lizzie sat deep in the saddle, driving her seat bones into Flicka's back as she extended her canter and flew across the long diagonal. "Good, Lizzie, good! Collect and trot!" said Hayden as Lizzie reached the end, collecting Flicka's canter halfway for a few strides before sitting deep, and Flicka transitioned downwards from a canter to a trot.
"How was that?" asked Lizzie. "Perfect," said Hayden. Lizzie beamed. "All right, I think that's enough for today, why don't you cool her out and hop down?" asked Hayden.
Lizzie nodded as she walked Flicka around the arena for a few minutes before dismounting – this time taking her feet out of the stirrups, and leaning forward as she swung her leg back and over the saddle as she slid down. Her scar was fully healed by now.
As the days counting down to the show loomed closer, the nerves began to develop, but Lizzie still managed to keep them at bay using the NLP techniques that Hayden had taught her.
Meanwhile, it became clear just how many people had bought Skiving Snackboxes from Fred and George. Umbridge only had to enter her classroom for the students assembled there to faint, vomit, develop dangerous fevers, or else spout blood from both nostrils.
Shrieking with rage and frustration, she attempted to trace the mysterious symptoms to their source, but the students told her stubbornly that they were suffering from 'Umbridge-itis' - something that both Lizzie and Hayden found highly amusing. After putting four successive classes in detention – including a handful of Hayden's classmates, and failing to discover their secret, she was forced to give up, and allow the bleeding, swooning, sweating, and vomiting students to leave her class in droves.
Even Molly Cobb was rushed to the hospital wing with a severe nosebleed and raging fever one afternoon. "I gave her my Skiving Snackbox," said Lizzie slyly to Hayden as they watched another crowd of students leave Umbridge's class either vomiting, fainting, bleeding, or sweating.
"What?" asked Hayden staring at her in confusion. "You know, the one Fred and George gave to me for my birthday? I gave it to Molly. She told me she was getting tired of Umbridge's classes, and how boring they were. I told her I had the perfect solution," said Lizzie. "You don't mean….." said Hayden, a smirk creeping on his handsome face. Lizzie nodded. "Mm-hmm, I went up to my dorm and got it out of my trunk and showed her how they worked. She was very appreciative," she said.
But not even the users of the Skiving Snackboxes could compete with the master of chaos, Peeves, who seemed to have taken it upon himself to exact his own kind of mayhem upon Professor Umbridge. Cackling madly, he soared through the school, upending tables, bursting out of blackboards, and toppling statues and vases.
Twice he shut Mrs. Norris inside suits of armor, from which she was rescued, yowling loudly by the furious caretaker.
He smashed lanterns, and snuffed out candles, juggled burning torches over the heads of screaming students – purposefully dropping one just above Lizzie's head as Hayden pulled her out of the way in the nick of time as it fell at her feet, causing neatly stacked piles of parchment to topple into fires, or out of windows, flooded the second floor when he pulled off all the taps in the bathrooms, dropping a bag of tarantulas in the middle of the Great Hall during breakfast, and whenever he fancied a break, spent hours at a time, floating along after Umbridge, and blowing loud raspberries every time she spoke.
Lizzie had never liked Peeves, although she had to admit to herself that she found this quite entertaining.
None of the staff but Filch seemed to be stirring themselves to help her. Indeed, Lizzie once witnessed Professor McGonagall walk right past Peeves who was determinedly loosening a crystal chandelier, and could have sworn she heard her tell the poltergeist out of the corner of her mouth, "It unscrews the other way."
The final match of the Quidditch season, Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw was to take place on the last weekend in May. Lizzie and Hayden hadn't managed to attend any of the games because both of them were busy with either riding or homework.
Although Slytherin had been narrowly defeated by Hufflepuff in their last match, Gryffindor was not daring to hope for a victory, due to mainly (though of course, nobody said it to him) Ron's abysmal goalkeeping record. He, however, seemed to have found a new optimism.
"I mean, I can't get any worse, can I?" he told Harry, Hermione, Lizzie, and Hayden grimly over breakfast one the morning of the match. "Nothing to lose now, is there?"
"If you give it your all, you've already won, Ron," said Lizzie. Harry and Hermione stared at her. "Remus taught me that," said Lizzie smiling.
They walked down to the pitch a little later in the midst of a very excitable crowd. Hayden was especially excited. They found seats in the topmost row of the stands. It was a fine, clear day. Ron could not wish for better, and Lizzie found herself praying harder than she had every prayed in her life that Ron would not give the Slytherins cause for more rousing choruses of "Weasley Is Our King" – a sort of cheerleading song that the Slytherins had turned into a derogatory chant in order to destroy Ron's confidence.
Lee Jordan was commentating as per usual. As the teams zoomed out of the pitches, he named the players with something less than his usual gusto.
"…Bradley…..Davies….Chang," he said as Lizzie watched Cho walk out onto the pitch, her shiny black hair rippling in the slight breeze. Lizzie glowered down at her. She still hadn't forgiven her for their latest row, and just when Lizzie was beginning to think she was an okay person.
"And they're off!" said Lee. "What is this, Quidditch or the Kentucky Derby?" asked Hayden as Lizzie laughed.
"And Davies takes the Quaffle immediately, Ravenclaw Captain Davies with the Quaffle, he dodges Johnson, he dodges Bell, he dodges Spinnet as well…He's going straight for the goal! He's going to shoot – and – and…" Lee swore very loudly. "And he scored."
Lizzie and Hayden groaned with the rest of the Gryffindors. Predictably, horribly, the Slytherins on the other side of the stands began to sing:
Weasley cannot save a thing
He cannot block a single ring….
"I can't listen to this, let's go," said Lizzie as she grabbed Hayden's arm and they exited the stands. They made their way down to the lake where they had spent many lovely days like this doing their homework, but today neither of them felt like working as they sat down on the edge of the Black lake and watched the shimmering mirror of water reflect light.
"Beautiful day," said Lizzie. "Not as beautiful as you," said Hayden fondly. Lizzie laughed as Hayden brushed a bit of hair out of her face as she turned to face him and before she knew it, she was kissing him. She kept glancing around as though anticipating to hear the telltale, "Hem-hem," of Professor Umbridge. Then they would really be in for it. But Lizzie had already said that she was willing to risk everything for him, so what did it matter? The gentle wind whipped through Lizzie's hair as Hayden held her face in his hands, running his fingers through her dark crimson hair. She had been dating him for nearly a week, and she could not believe her luck. Hayden had his pick of all the girls in Lizzie's year and above, and out of all of them, he had chosen her. Lizzie felt very blessed indeed.
She didn't want to think about how in less than a month, term would end and she would be forced to say goodbye. She tried not to think about it, but at the same time, she felt it was unrealistic not to. He had already told her that he wanted to continue his magical education, but reassured her that they would find a way to maintain their relationship long-distance. Just because he was leaving Hogwarts, didn't mean that he was leaving her.
Weasley is out King
Weasley is our King
He didn't let the Quaffle in,
Weasley is our King…..
"Good grief! Aren't they done singing that stupid song?" asked Hayden. "I know," said Lizzie, rolling her eyes. "Haven't they gloated enough?"
A great tide of students was moving up the sloping lawns from the pitch. "Oh, come on," said Lizzie, getting to her feet, so did Hayden. "Let's get inside before we have to meet the Slytherins."
Weasley can save anything
He never leaves a single ring
That's why Gryffindors all sing
Weasley is our King
"Uh….Liz…" said Hayden slowly.
The song was growing louder, but it was issuing not from a crowd of green-and-silver clad Slytherins, but from a mass of red and gold moving slowly toward the castle, which was bearing a solitary figure upon its many shoulders…..
Weasley is our King,
Weasley is our King,
He didn't let the Quaffle in,
Weasley is our King…..
"No!" breathed Hayden. "Yes!" squealed Lizzie happily, jumping into Hayden's arms and kissing him. Hayden began laughing as he held her, and Lizzie jumped down from his arms, put her fingers in her mouth, and let out a celebratory whistle in the crowd's direction.
"LIZZIE! HAYDEN!" yelled Ron, waving a silver Quidditch Cup, and looking quite beside himself. "WE DID IT! WE WON!"
They beamed up at him as he passed, there was a scrum at the door of the castle, and Ron's head got rather badly bumped on the lintel, but nobody seemed to want to put him down. Still singing, the crowd squeezed itself into the entrance hall and out of sight. Lizzie and Hayden watched them go, beaming until the last echoing strains of "Weasley Is Our King" died away. Then they turned to each other, their smiles fading as they climbed up the steps together holding hands.
